THE SNARK
& OTHER BEASTS
15 - 21 Dec 2025
Camden Park, Singapore
Viewing by Appointment Only
Contact: gallery@nikkofineart.com
Foreword
This special exhibition and sale marks our second showing, likely one of the last exhibitions of the year anywhere in the world.
The seven selected objects span a timeline from approximately 600 B.C. to 1279 A.D., encompassing Ordos culture through to the Han to Song dynasties.
Most of the objects have remained in private collections for decades, the longest having been held by a single owner for seventy years, lending a particular resonance to the catalogue title.
Where possible, the online publication includes links to comparable examples, provided for ease of reference.
Considerable time and effort have been devoted to this undertaking, and we are thrilled to share it with you.
We hope you take great pleasure in the works of art we have chosen.
NIKKO FINE ART
Catalogue
Bronze Plaque with Two Yaks
Ordos Culture, 2 nd – 1 st Century B.C.
Height: 5.5 cm
Width: 11 cm
Openwork bronze belt plaque featuring two yaks, set within a grooved rectangular frame, the reverse without loops. Their heads shown frontally and bodies in profile; the horns, ears, hooves, and tails defined with recessed interiors.
Provenance: Hans Peter Collection, London
Private UK Collection acquired Eskenazi Ltd., 2003
Comparable examples:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Nasli M. Heeramaneck Collection of Ancient Near Eastern and Central Asian Art, Accession Number: (M.76.97.541)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Ernest Erickson Collection, Accession Number: 1985.214.77
Bronze Ibex Ornament
Ordos Culture, 6 th – 2 nd Century B.C.
Height: 3.4 cm
Width: 5 cm
Bronze harness ornament cast in the form of an ibex, the reverse with a single vertical loop. Depicted in a recumbent pose, with curved horn, the chest and hindquarters defined by concave modelling.
Provenance: Collection of C.T. Loo
Private French Collection, acquired from C.T. Loo, Paris, 1955
Published: Alfred Salmony , Sino - Siberian Art in the Collection of C.T. Loo, Paris, 1933, Plate IX., 10.
Comparable examples:
The British Museum, Accession Number: 1947,0712.397, Bequeathed by: Henry J Oppenheim
Sancai Glazed Box and Cover
Tang Dynasty, 618 – 907 A.D.
Height: 2.5 cm
Diameter: 6.3 cm
Of circular form, the cover with a slight bevelled step, glazed overall in a rich sancai glaze, save for the interior of the cover and base, revealing the pinkish - buff body.
Provenance: A Japanese Tea Ceremony Family Collection
Tanisho , Tokyo
Comparable examples:
Sotheby’s Important Chinese Art, The Sze Yuan Tang Collection, Lot 227
Poly Hong Kong 10 th Anniversary Auctions, Tang Sancai Ceramics From The Ten - views Lingbi Rock Retreat Collection, Lot 3204
Sotheby’s Chinese Art From the Collection of Dr. Hiroshi Horiuchi, Lot 284
Ding-Type White Glazed Jar
Five Dynasties – Northern Song Dynasty, 10 th – 11 th Century
Height: 5.7 cm
Diameter: 6.3 cm
Of globular form, covered in an ivory glaze, stopping short of the base, the shallow foot unglazed revealing the fine white ware.
Provenance: A Private Collection, Japan
Shimojo Art Co., Tokyo
Published: Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum and Machida City Museum, Tiny Chinese Ceramics – Treasures on a Palm, No.100
Comparable examples:
Christie’s Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2005, Lot 268
Moulded Qingbai Phoenix Bowl
Southern Song Dynasty, 1127 – 1279 A.D.
Height: 5.6 cm
Diameter: 16.8 cm
Of conical form, supported on a narrow solid foot, the interior moulded with two phoenixes with wings outspread, encircled above by a key - fret border. Evenly glazed throughout in a pale bluish glaze, stopping at the foot to reveal the fine - grained white body.
Provenance: Kunryudo , Tokyo
A Private Collection, Japan
Comparable examples:
Ashmolean Museum, The Barlow Collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades, Accession Number: LI1301.50
Sotheby’s, Celestial Colors. The Cadle Family Collection of Chinese Monochromes, Lot 21
Sotheby’s, A Selection of Chinese Art from the Edward T. Chow Collection, Lot 606
Brown Glazed Horse and Rider
Han Dynasty, 206 B.C. – 220 A.D.
Height: 6.3 cm
Width: 6.5 cm
Modelled in the form of a horse and rider, glazed overall in a brown glaze, the features of both rider and horse well detailed.
Provenance: Kochukyo , Tokyo
Sen Shu Tey , Tokyo
Comparable examples:
Rietberg Museum Accession Number: RCH 411a- b
Russet Jade Mythical Beast
Song Dynasty, 960 – 1279 A.D.
Height: 3.4 cm
Width: 4.6 cm
The jade of deep and lighter russet tones, carved in the round as a recumbent single - horned beast, the head turned back over its spine in a snarling expression, the tail flicked around one side.
Provenance: Rasti Fine Art, Hong Kong
Published: Rasti Chinese Art, Works of Art: October 2014, No. 009
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